MIDLAND COUNTIES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 271 
all horses do not contract it, still some have it so slight that it 
almost escapes notice, and they are never exempt from it. I have 
had it in the sacking colt only a few weeks old. In the Veterina- 
rian of August, 1851, I recorded a case in a horse, 14 years old, 
belonging to Mr. Bishop, of Worcester, and in the March number 
of the same journal Mr. Quick records a case in a horse 1 6 years 
old. 
Mr. J. Hodgson has a strong impression that a good case of 
strangles is a preventive of glanders and farcy. Now, in general 
practice this would be difficult to decide, as we frequently so soon 
lose sight of our patients ; but in army practice, where each animal 
is numbered and registered, much might be done to confirm or 
disprove this assertion. 
Is the disease in question infectious or contagious ? Here again 
opinions vary. Professor Armatage has recorded several cases of 
inoculation performed by himself ; and although one or two died of 
anaemia, not one exhibited the characteristic marks of true strangles ; 
still the question remains open, and I cannot reconcile my mind to 
the idea of its non-infectiousness. How can we account for the dis- 
ease so quickly spreading in a stable of horses after the introduction 
of one labouring under it, unless it be from infection. That an ani- 
mal does not take a specific malady from inoculation is to my mind 
only another evidence of the uncertain results of such operations. 
How often after inoculation do we find symptoms of quite a different 
character set up in the system, or that from some peculiar strength 
of constitution we try in vain to produce disease. The professor 
had one or two die from ansemia, but no tendency to suppuration. 
Attempt to inoculate a cow with pleuro-pneumonia, and it is very 
doubtful if you produce anything like the primary disease ; also try 
her with smallpox matter. I have inoculated them direct from the 
child, and in four out of five I could not produce a single pustule. 
I am inclined to think in strangles, also in some other catarrhal 
affections, such as influenza, there is eliminated from the surface of 
the body, and particularly from the excretions, a morbid principle 
that impregnates the surrounding atmosphere, and thus communi- 
cates the disease. It has been related of a celebrated Yorkshire 
dealer that he so believed in its infection, that he would procure a 
diseased animal to place among his young horses, knowing they 
throve much more rapidly after recovering from the effects of it. 
This seems to me bold practice, and I would say to such a man 
prevention is better than cure. 
The predisposing causes are many, but chief of all some peculiar 
state of atmosphere, that in particular seasons causes the disease to 
assume almost an epizootic type. Change of temperature and diet, 
removal from the country pasture to town stables, also have their 
effect ; and I don’t think w r e can wonder at this, when we consider 
this emigration is the same as a change of seasons, not slow and im- 
perceptible, but quick and instantaneous ; the animal in a state of 
nature will accommodate itself wonderfully to change of temperature ; 
but this aptitude becomes impaired and deprived of its power of 
